Convertible life-belt.



A. GERLEY.

CONVERTIBLE LIFE BELT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1915.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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IINITE r aTArThlfd PATENT ALBERTO GERLEY, 0F BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

CONVERTIBLE LIFE-BELT.

Application filed July 15, 1915.

son of the wearer.

To accomplish this purpose I make use of an ordinary gas producing capsule such as is commonly used for the aeration of water for drinking purposes, and I have found that the gas produced by one of these capsules, when used to inflate an air proof chamber in a belt, is sufficient to float the human body.

My invention consists in the application of a capsule of the class mentioned to the purpose of inflating a flexible air chamber concealed within a belt of leather or other appropriate material, and also in the means and combination of means for accommodating the capsule in a suitable holder in the belt and for instantaneously perforating the neck of the capsule at will in order to cause the gas or compressed air contained in the same to escape within and inflate the flexible air chamber.

For the better understanding of my invention, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure I is a front view of the belt before inflating;

Fig. II is a front view of the same after inflating;

Figs. III and IV are views in cross section of my belt after and before inflating.

Figs. V and VI are views in elevation and side section respectively, of the clamp designated in the drawings by the letter U.

Fig. VII is a top plan view of the buckle member.

Figs. VIII and IX are views of the buckle member in front and side horizontal sections and Figs. X and XI are views of the same in front and side elevation.

Referring to these figures it will be seen Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Serial No. 40,013.

that the belt is composed of the strap or belt proper A with an inner lining B of cloth sewed all along its lower edge to the said belt A and having a series of clasps D in the upper part A. Inside this belt when folded, there is placed a flexible air chamber C made of rubber cloth which is sewed to the upper part of the lining B, the buckle or capsule holder E comprising a cylindrical part F in which the capsule is placed and closed by the cover G, a movable part Q, which serves as a lever and turns on the pivot pin K provided with a cam L at one end, the pin K being held in its place by the gland M, said cam L serving to raise the punch J with its guide I which rises inside the brass seat II and perforates the seal of the capsule, allowing the gas to escape through the tube 0 and rubber pipe P into the flexible chamber 0. The movable part Q; is held in its place by the ring T. UU represent a series of clamps which hold the belt in place when folded. The toothed strips R and S are for fastening the belt.

The manner of operation is as follows: To prepare the belt the capsule is placed in the holder and the cap Gr screwed on. The belt is then fastened on the waist of the wearer in the usual manner, passing the end of same between the cylindrical part and the buckle, when toothed strips B S engage and hold it in place. The end of the belt is passed through the series of clamps U which being flexible, open. To convert the belt into a life preserver, the part Q is turned down, the punch J being raised by the cam L, perforating the seal of the capsule thus allowing the gas to enter into the flexible air chamber C which in inflating 5 tect by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is:

1. In a life belt, the combination with a belt containing an air chamber, of a gas producing capsule and means to perforate the will be projected upward and will perforate 10 the base of the cylindrical casing.

Signed at Buenos Aires, Argentina, this seventh day of June A. D. 1915.

ALBERTO GERLE Y.

same, such means consisting of a mechanism contained in the buckle of the belt.

2. In a life belt, the combination of an inflatable belt, of a buckle comprising: a cylindrical casing, closed at the ends, a punch positioned below said casing, a cam engaging the lower end of said punch and means for rotating said cam whereby-the punch lVitnesses CHARLES J. PIzAs, RALPH WALTER HUNTINGTON.

Copies of this pate nt may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

